The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has placed a lifetime “no-fly” ban on a female passenger, Comfort Emmanson, following a violent altercation with Ibom Air crew members on a flight from Uyo to Lagos. The ban, which is effective immediately, prohibits her from flying with any AON member airline, both domestically and internationally.
According to a statement released by the AON spokesperson, Obiora Okonkwo, the incident began with the passenger’s refusal to comply with safety instructions regarding mobile phone usage. This led to a “brutal physical assault” on the flight crew and an attempt to use a fire extinguisher as a weapon, which the AON described as one of the most severe cases of unruly passenger behavior this year.
Ibom Air confirmed the incident, stating that after the flight landed in Lagos, Emmanson (whom had been nicknamed Kwam 2 by Nigerians) waited for other passengers to disembark before confronting the purser who had initially instructed her. She allegedly assaulted the crew member, tore off her wig, and slapped another crew member who tried to intervene. Her violent behavior continued even after airport security arrived.
The AON condemned the passenger’s actions, calling them a “sustained, violent attack” that put the lives of the crew and other passengers at risk. The association also used the incident to call on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to review and tighten security procedures at all airports, citing vulnerabilities in the Aviation Security (AVSEC) response.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, also commented on the incident, stating that the passenger has since been charged to court and is being remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos.
The AON affirmed its zero-tolerance policy for unruly passengers and warned that anyone exhibiting similar behavior in the future would face similar consequences.
